Allergens in hymenoptera venom. VI. Cross reactivity of human IgE antibodies to the three vespid venoms and between vespid and paper wasp venoms.

A substantial degree of immunologic cross-reactivity is demonstrated among yellow jacket (YJV), yellow hornet (YHV) and white-faced hornet (WFHV) venoms and between the vespid venoms and paper wasp venom (PWV) by RAST inhibition studies of individual sera from allergic patients. Cross-reactivity is shown to be complete, partial or absent in various cases. In many cases RAST inhibition studies are able to demonstrate the primary sensitivity. Specificity by RAST inhibition did not always agree with specificity by quantitative RAST. A variety of patterns of cross-reaction are shown to exist between the pairs of venoms studied. There is no general pattern of cross-reactivity among the vespids or between vespid and paper wasp. Some cross-reactivity appears to result from multiple stings by different insects.